Sunday, February 9, 2014

Welcome to "Waterblogged: Writers Afloat" --
interviews with sailors who write and writers who sail. Read how my talented
and interesting guests have managed to blend writing, sailing, family, work, and
their passion for life at sea into fascinating stories, best-selling books, and
successful writing careers.

Today's Writer Afloat is Amy Biddle. Her debut novel, The Atheist's Prayer, is scheduled
for release by Perfect Edge Books on February 28th, and available
for pre-order now on Amazon!
Amy is also a book reviewer at Underground Book Reviews (http://www.undergroundbookreviews.com/)

Welcome, Amy and thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to chat with me.

LYNNE: What came first, writing or sailing?

AMY: Writing, no contest. I’ve been writing since before I
learned the alphabet. I used to read stories aloud from my scribbles. As for
sailing, I’ve always loved the ocean but I grew up in the mountains and didn’t
get many chances to get on the water until I was in high school.

LYNNE: Tell us a little bit about how you came to both your
sailing and writing life.

AMY: When I was in high school, I enrolled in a
semester-long alternative education program on a traditional, wooden schooner
and it changed my life. I never thought I’d make a career out of it, but somehow
I just couldn’t escape the pull of the ocean. I ended up going to college at
Massachusetts Maritime Academy to get a license to work on big ships. My career
has brought me to all corners of the globe, and has also afforded me the time
to pursue my writing goals.

LYNNE: When and where do you prefer to write?

AMY: I travel so much there isn’t a particular when or
where. My laptop goes with me wherever I go. In order to really get into a
story, I need a few hours of alone time. I find a coffee shop, hole myself up
in my room, or get comfortable in a hammock.

Most of The Atheist’s Prayer was written on boats. It
started as a short story when I was working on a schooner and the rest of it I
wrote on a research vessel. When I’m not traveling or working, I have an
apartment in Cambridge, and I work at a desk in my room.

LYNNE: Do you follow a schedule for writing? How do you
juggle sailing, work, book reviews, and writing?

AMY: For six months out of the year I spend every day on the
bridge of a ship. Sometimes it’s hectic, and sometimes it’s excruciatingly
slow. When I’m on watch I dream up crazy characters and impossible plot twists,
then scribble notes on scraps of paper which eventually accumulate at the
bottom of my dresser drawer. I used to spend a lot of time writing new material
when I was at sea, but since I’ve gotten involved with Underground Book Reviews
I can barely keep up with my reviews. Luckily, the two other co-founders, Brian
and Katie, are able to pick up my slack when I’m at work.

The other six months out of the year I have all the free
time in the world. If it weren’t for that time off, the first version of The
Atheist’s Prayer would be sitting in draft form somewhere, unedited and
forgotten.

LYNNE: What's the most difficult part of being a writer
afloat? The most rewarding?

AMY: The biggest difficulty for me was breaking into the
literary world without an English major or a single piece of published work.
Underground Book Reviews helped immensely with that, but it was still a
struggle.

Writing is my
reward. When I’m on the ship, writing is my escape. When I’m off the ship, it’s
my life. And of course, there’s community. Meeting other writers is a thrill.
The people I work with at Underground Book Reviews helped me write The
Atheist’s Prayer and have supported me through thick and thin. I wouldn’t be
where I am today without their help.

LYNNE: Tell us about The Atheist's Prayer and when and where
readers can buy it.

AMY: The Atheist’s Prayer is about an
alcoholic mall Santa and a coke-dealing stripper who get tangled up with a
fairy-worshiping suicide cult. It’s dark, and it’s funny, and I like to think
that there’s some meaning underneath the crass humor.

It’s being published by Perfect Edge Books, an imprint of
John Hunt Publishing. The authors at Perfect Edge are a fantastic bunch, and in
fact two of them will be reading with me for an event at the Harvard Coop in
Cambridge, MA on March 27th.

LYNNE:What else have
you written or are you working on now?

AMY: I’ve been writing some short stories, but I’m not ready
to start a new novel until after The Atheist’s Prayer comes out. I’m
putting all my efforts into the book release and Underground Book Reviews. But
the ideas for my next novel are always brewing…

LYNNE:Do you have a
favorite character that you've written, and why?

AMY: I put a little bit of myself into every character I
write, and I make sure none of them are perfect. I love them all in their own
right. It might be easy for readers to choose a favorite, but not me.

LYNNE: Who is your favorite author and why?

AMY: I have a lot of favorite books, but Kurt Vonnegut is by
far my favorite author. He gets you laughing and thinking at the same time.
It’s an underrated talent.

LYNNE:What inspires
you, both in your writing and in your sailing?

AMY: I’m inspired by the world around me. Wherever I am- at
sea, in the car, at a party, on a hike- I’m thinking about how I’d capture that
scene in writing. How do I capture the essence of the experience? A description
of a bus stop from the point of view of a weary traveler might be dirty and
overcrowded. From the point of view of someone on their way to meet the love of
their life it might be bustling with life and excitement. Experience is so
subjective. It’s not what you write
about, but how you write about it
that really makes the impact.

LYNNE: Last question.
Underground Book Reviews is a great showcase for new and emerging authors and
gives you a great opportunity to get to know them and their experiences. Based
on your reviews, interviews, and your own experience, what advice do you think
new/emerging authors most need to hear?

AMY: Passion, inspiration and obsession get a book written.
Sweat, pain and perseverance get a book ready for publication. Editing is a
bitch, but it’s also necessary. Be hungry for feedback, and be open to
criticism. But in the end, remember that you are the master of your world.
Consider advice with an open mind but don’t feel obligated to please everyone,
because you won’t. Ever.

And learn how to sell yourself. Stand on that street corner
and strut your stuff, because no one will notice you otherwise.

____________________________________________________________

I urge you all to run over to Amazon and order a copy of The Atheist's Prayer. It's a thoroughly enjoyable read that had me laughing out loud. Funny and poignant, The Atheist's Prayer is a fast-paced, comic exploration of belief,
disbelief, gullibility, and faith. Biddle seamlessly blends the
lunacy of a fairy-worshipping cult with a cast of quirky characters searching for
answers, usually in all the wrong places. Written with style and humor, The
Atheist's Prayer will pull you in, make you laugh and think, and want more. I'm eagerly awaiting Amy's next novel!

You can read more by and about Amy's life as a sailing
writer at her blogs and website:

Saturday, February 1, 2014

A Canadian swimmer recently set two World Records in his Masters Swimming Age Group: 100-104.

104-year old Masters Swimmer Jaring Timmerman
(from WPTV.com)

Yes, you read that correctly. At the ripe young age of 104, Jaring Timmerman now holds 4 records for his age group and because Mr. Timmerman turns 105 next month, they have to add a NEW age group: 105-109 to the records.

As if that's not amazing enough, Mr. Timmerman didn't even begin competitive swimming until the age of 79!

When I was an invincible 20- and 30-something competing in masters swimming, we used to joke about outliving the competition as the easiest way to make it to the record books. Mr. T is doing just that.

Go here to see a video interview with this amazing man, who shows us all it's never too late to try something new.

When asked why he swims at his age, Mr. Timmerman said, "It's a challenge...So that's why I swim, the challenge."

If that doesn't make you want to go out and try something new, I don't know what will! If you need some more motivation to get in the pool, forget runners' high, Swimmers' Bliss is even better!